Highlights:
-> Europe’s climate monitor has confirmed that 2024 is on track to become the hottest year ever recorded.
-> 2024 is a record as the hottest year. Global average temperatures are set to exceed the critical 1.5°C threshold above pre-industrial levels.
-> Climate disasters have intensified globally due to rapid warming.
This marks the first time the planet’s average temperature has surpassed the critical 1.5°C threshold above pre-industrial levels—a benchmark scientists warn is essential for mitigating dangerous overheating.
Also Read: UN Top Court Begins Historic Hearing on Climate Change Responsibilities
The Copernicus Climate Change Service reported that an extraordinary spell of unprecedented heat pushed global temperatures significantly higher between January and November. Corinne Le Quéré, a leading climate scientist, noted that 2024 would eclipse the previous record set in 2023, further highlighting the alarming pace of global warming.
Paris Agreement at Risk: 2024 Surpasses 1.5°C Threshold Temporarily: This milestone caps a year marked by devastating climate disasters that affected both developed and developing nations. Scientists have directly linked these events to humanity’s extensive use of fossil fuels, which has led to the rapid warming of Earth’s atmosphere and oceans.
October brought a stark warning from the United Nations: current global efforts to combat climate change are insufficient. Projections suggest the world is on track for a catastrophic 3.1°C warming unless significant action is taken.
Despite international pledges under the Paris Agreement to limit warming to 1.5°C, emissions from burning coal, oil, and gas continue to rise. These activities release greenhouse gases that intensify the Earth’s warming, disrupt climate systems, and amplify the frequency and severity of extreme weather events.
Also Read: The Arctic: A Melting White Wonderland Turning Blue
Even at current warming levels, the toll of climate change is evident. Scientists are stressing that without immediate and substantial reductions in emissions, the impacts will worsen, jeopardizing ecosystems, economies, and lives worldwide.
